Hi hi hi,
Sorry for the late chapter, I'm a horrid human being that's only just got round to starting Parks and Rec's… now obsessed ha! Any way, this is a pretty long chapter, so here is hoping it doesn't get tedious to read.
As always,
Cheers for the F/F: shishiwastaken, hiddenintentions, inperfection, boompje77, passingwhisper & K.C.96
Cheers for the reviews: Marina Oakenshield, SaMiLuCaS1954, inperfection and ma potato TraumerdeAmore
I only own little Todd!
Chapter 15 – Bait and Switch
Gandalf couldn't of come at a better time at all. Todd and the Company were just about done. Battered beaten and almost about to be tortured, if only just for the horrendous creatures amusement. He emerged from the darkness, staff in one hand and sword shinning in the other. Todd had never felt such relief, her wounded back was still oozing blood, her scalp burning making her vision of the wizard blur a little. Ducking in a deep breath she shuddered. The Company was coming to and so were the Goblins when Gandalf made the call to take up arms and fight.
Everyone scrambled, Todd crawled the small distance to the pile of weapons at the foot of the throne as Gandalf stepped forth to slay any Goblin that got in his way. Her back screaming at her.
"He wields the foe hammer, the beater bright as daylight!" The Goblin King cried from his slouch position on the floor where he fell.
As soon as Todd had reached the pile of weapons Bofur was by her side and they took to throwing weapons to their respected owners. Todd fumbled to throw Dwalin's twin axes to him. Dwalin caught them and shouted his thanks as he started to embed them into anything evil that moved. She threw Oin's staff, Gloin's axe and Oris slingshot, Bofur dealing out the rest. Then theirs were the only ones left. She snatched her twin blades as a battle started around her, shoving the belt on she stood on unsteady feet and unsheathed her blades.
The feel of their weight and the tassels dancing across her hands sent a shiver of calm through her. Once she got stock of her breath, keeping it even to spread out the pain, she launched into slicing at every Goblin she saw. The Company were slowly but surely slicing their way through all the Goblins that had held them captive, the rest on the gangways and platforms above shrieking and shouting as they raced to join in the fray. Todd had just pulled her daggers from her fourth kill when Gandalf shouted out for them to follow him.
She span her blades round in her hand, blades pointing to the ground, making it easier to slice anything coming at her from the sides. Gandalf lead them in a line down some stairs and onto a wooden walkway that snaked its way through over and under other paths. Paths that were now swarming with Goblins.
As she ran she could feel her back throbbing, the beat of her blood rushing through her was causing the pain to spread. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach to the top of her head. Sharp needles constantly stabbing at her. She was slightly aware that the top of her tunic was hanging at her waist, her undershirt on full display and ripped at the back, exposing her bare back, now covered in oozing sickly blood. Yet ran she did, and sliced her way through any oncoming Goblins she did.
She tried to look back at one point, only to have Fili urge her on, his eyes half on her, half on her back.
"Don't look!" He shouted. Todd turned back and nodded.
Ahead of Todd was Bifur and Dwalin, she kept right on Bifur's heels not wanting to get left behind or slow anyone up behind her. They reached a part where their path got wider, a shoddy wooden handrail to one side. She looked to Dwalin as he stopped and looked back over the company. Spotting no way but through the oncoming Goblins he shouted back, Todd not understanding what he said completely. Her hearing and sight going blurry with a bout of nausea.
Fili started pulling at the wooden handrail. The idea clicking in her head as she looked from Fili to Dwalin, she took to yanking it free and then swinging it from left to right as they ran, knocking any oncoming Goblins off the side of the pathway. Goblins were being slaughtered left right and centre as they ran, Todd becoming slower and slower until Bofur and Bombur came up behind her, both grabbing a head in theirs and urging her forwards.
The pain was now coming and going in waves, her adrenalin kicking in when Goblins neared, then as it subsided, she would be overcome by ache and stinging. As she started to stumble, legs going numb, she barely noticed Kili yank a ladder free up ahead and fling it down on some monsters heads. Leading them off a gap in the path, then he used the ladder as a bridge. Todd let her eyes go wide, they were too blurry, there was no way she had the balance to get over that without falling to her death. Bombur seemed to have the same idea, for he swung her round then flung her up onto his shoulder, Bofur was right behind, slashing and beating anything that came close to his Todd and his Brother.
"No, I'll slow you down!" She screamed. Bofur gave her as soft a look as he could manage whilst running, and killing Goblins.
Bombur ignored her shouting as he crossed the bridge, Todd securely over his shoulder. He was glad to have her there; she was beginning to slow down, the pain getting to her. He had been watching her as he ran, her back was still bleeding, she had lost a lot of blood, there was no way that she could keep up running, and there was no way that he was leaving her behind. His Brother would never forgive him, or himself if they were to have just left her. Bombur understood that she was a part of the company now, his Brother thinking so from the start. She deserved to be saved after her show of loyalty earlier.
Todd watched as the Goblins raced behind them, yet to her shock they were actually rushing away from them, the company out running their pursuers. Her eyes started to blur again and she couldn't help closing her eyes and letting the nausea take over. She gagged as the pain spiked and she whimpered into Bombur's shoulders. Tears spilling as she grew angry at how weak she must seem, and especially at the fact that she was now holding him back.
"Nearly there!" Bofur shouted to her, seeing her in pain. He was lying of course; he had no idea where they were.
She felt Bombur stop, and then started swinging, it felt like. Opening her eyes she was acutely aware of the section of the path they were on swinging away from the Goblins and around to another path. They jumped and she couldn't help but yelp when he landed, on his feet yet with a jarring motion. Then they were running again. Running and slicing and dodging and killing until they came to another bridge. A rush of cracking and splintering sounds filled her ears and she felt the platform shake through Bombur. A deep evil grunt and chuckle following.
"You think you could escape me?" Came a familiar voice. Todd tried to swivel round, only to have Bofur rush forward and help Bombur place her down on her feet. Wobbling slightly, she grabbed his sleeve and turned to see what was going on.
The Goblin King had risen from the walkway below and was blocking their way. Gandalf at the front was staring him down, a tiny wizard compared to the gross giant Goblins size. They were done for. Todd's heart sunk as she heard the cacophony of the rest of the Goblins catching up to them, sneering and jabbing at their backs.
"What are you going to do now wizard?" The King mocked.
Gandalf huffed and slammed the end of his staff right into the Goblin Kings eye, following on by slicing a huge gash across his over grown lumpy stomach. The monster fell to its knees and cried out, his lackeys watching in shock. As the King muttered something to Gandalf, he sliced his throat, the King collapsing dead before him. The impact of his lump of a body against the platform had it splintering and snapping apart. The whole company loosing their balance.
Her mind raced, cursing their bad luck as she flung her arms around, trying to keep her balance, yet only succeeding in falling onto her backside. The whole platform was slipping, a few wooden beams holding them in place. Yet she watched with utter horror as they too snapped and splintered.
Todd felt that first moment of falling pass slowly, that initial feeling of your stomach rushing up and into your chest. Her eyes flying wide and her voice screaming with out her permission. The part of the platform that the Company was on had separated and was now skidding and sliding down into the deep of Goblin Town.
The rushing and crashing of their decent had Todd's pain roaring up and setting her on fire. Blackness started to claw around her vision. Searching she spotted Bombur laid out flat beside her, clinging on as tight as he could. She caught his eyes and he reached out for her as she reached out for him. She felt her whole body shudder and a swift numbness, like pins and needles rush up from her toes consuming her. Bombur's wide eyes were the last things she saw, showing concern and fright as hers rolled to the back of her head.
Just as her head hit the platform, completely unconscious the falling came to an abrupt halt as the wood slammed against the cave floor. Dwarves went flying everywhere as the platform mangled itself into a sandwich of sorts, some stuck under, others lying on the ground from being flung through the air with the impact. Yet, all of them alive.
Bombur was one of the lucky ones to have been thrown off, his fall being cushioned by his 'padding' his brother liked to call it. He rolled over and up, looking around for the fiery red head he had been trying to reach out for. He knew she had finally blacked out, he thought it was amazing that she had lasted so long in the first place. As the others were groaning and trying to free themselves from under lumps and clumps of wood, he took to searching for her.
It was a great mess, Bombur thought as he started throwing wooden beams out of the way to look. Above him his Brother mentioned something about their predicament being worse. Bombur lifted his head to scorn his Brother only to watch in horror then mild amusement, as the Goblin King slammed down on top of the pile, causing the trapped dwarves to groan out in protest, none being harmed by the extra weight.
Bofur jumped down and out form the wreck and went straight to his Brother, noticing his worried and anxious expression.
"What's wrong?" He asked, settling his hand on Bomburs shoulder.
"Todd, I can't find her!" He muttered, looking still.
Bofur searched then too, and after what felt like an age, they found her, unconscious under a pile of wooden planks. Her back was making a burning hot rage fill him stomach and an overwhelming need to protect her settle over his mind. The whole of her back was looking extremely painful and putrid. They gently took care in moving the debris, Bofur lifting her out and into his arms. They were going to have to carry her, there was no way they would be able to wake her now, and have her walk. Bofur was just about to ask what was next when Kili's worried shout had them all looking up.
"Gandalf!" The young heir shouted. Looking up, a huge swarm of Goblins were rushing down the side of the crevice walls. Their screeches and shrieks filling their ears as they rushed ever closer, drums thumping in the background.
"There's only one thing to save us now…" Gandalf started, pointing his staff towards a dim light ahead of them. "…day light! RUN!"
Bofur didn't need to be told twice. The last few trapped Dwarves were pulled free, then they sprinted as fast as they could, one after the other through the winding pathway at the bottom of the crevice. They were all shouting to hurry, panting and huffing as they rushed towards the light. The further they went the fresher the air was becoming, they had never wanted day light so much in their lives.
Bofur had never run so fast either, his legs were burning by the time hey burst into the fresh evening air. With Todd safely tucked in his arms, bridal style, he rushed down the side of the pine covered hillside they had emerged on. The feeling of still being chased clawing at him. It was an awful feeling, knowing something dangerous and scary was right behind you, but not being able to turn back to see how close, or to see if they had been lost. Yet when his leader, his King slowed down to a stop, just over a few boulders and far away from the mountains exit, he took a daring glance back. Nothing, nothing but the last few remaining company members.
"Mahal above!" He spluttered, his breaths rushing from him as he stopped dead. "Somebody help!"
Oin and Gandalf were on him in seconds. Gandalf took the limp woman and placed her on her side on the floor, his hands hovering over her face, whispering strange words as Oin fiddled about with his medicine pouch that had been strapped under his tunic so the nasty Goblins couldn't find it. He pulled out a weed looking plant and all manners of different salves and ointments.
"Here laddie, help me!" He motioned for Bofur to hold back the tattered parts of her clothing. Both Dwarves jumped out of their skin when Gandalf finished his mutterings and Todd lurched into life. She sucked in a deep breath and took to whimpering as she shivered in the evening chill.
"There we are!" Gandalf cooed a little. He gently pulled her hair away from her face and smiled down to her. "You brave little fox, welcome back!"
"Gandalf?" She whispered, before wincing and crying out a little as something gooey was plastered onto her back. Stinging immediately flaring up. "Thank you!"
"Stay still now Todd!" Oin chided as he set to work. Gandalf stood then, taking a note of everyone around him. Counting and calling names he found himself a member down, one person short. His eyes narrowing, searching behind and around everywhere before calling out.
"Bilbo?" he called, yet he found no answer. "Where is our Hobbit?"
Everyone started looking around. Todd in her pain-induced haze realized that they meant he wasn't with them, Her heart nearly beat out of her chest. She grabbed Bofur's hand and looked to him, her eyes imploring. Had she failed, failed to see that her friend, Brother almost, needed her. Had she lost him forever before they even had a chance to get to know one another better? Her eyes welled up just at the thought of the warm smile and terrible jokes that always made her chuckle, his never ending concern and care for her. Was it to be taken from her as well?
"Curse that Halfling, now he's lost!" Dwalin grumbled, not sounding at all in the least bit worried. "I thought he was with Dori?"
"Don't blame me!" Dori shouted back, looking to Gandalf with worry, not wanting to be shouted at or to anger the wizard.
"Well where did you last see him?" Gandalf tried, his voice showing how utterly pained he was to have lost his Hobbit. Bilbo really was very dear to him, and he knew that Todd would be utterly devastated at his loss. Looking to her, he saw wetness around her emerald eyes already. Bofur muttering to her to calm down as Oin continued treating her wounds.
"I think I saw him slip away when they first collared us!" Nori offered. Gandalf turning to him with hope, maybe that meant that Bilbo had gotten away from the Goblins, yet where was he now?
"I'll tell you what's happened, Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it!" Thorin shouted above everyone else. Todd wincing at his harsh tone. "He has thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth as first he stepped out his door!"
"We will not be seeing our Hobbit again, he is long gone!"
"No, he wouldn't!" Todd called out. Not wanting to believe that Bilbo would just leave them, leave her. He understood how much it meant to her to have him on her side, he was like family to her. He had even offered her a place within his home, and she had almost left to take it with him. They both needed to be apart of this Company, she couldn't do it with out him. Bofur sighed as he looked to her, then back around the company. He understood. Bilbo was a good friend to him, and he couldn't imagine the rest of the journey without him. "He's coming!"
"Do you see him here?" Dwalin shouted to Todd, making her jump a little. Oin finishing off by slapping salve all over her back, before packing his stuff and moving away, muttering about that being the best he could do. "He's left you, get over it!"
The Company was all looking to each other with varying degrees of worry and miserable features. Each one not really wanting to believe that Bilbo had gone and left them. No matter what any of the older Dwarves said either, Todd could tell that they were sad to see him go. A pit grew in her stomach as she realized that she might never see Bilbo again, see his smile and his light curly hair, hear his cheery, yet very polite voice. It almost bought tears to her eyes at the fact that, the only family she had, had been taken from her again.
"No, he hasn't!" Came a rather out of breath and light voice from behind them all. Todd's head span round and she clambered up to stand, her back screaming at her, yet not as badly as it had been before. She craned her neck over Bofur to see him, and there he was. Bilbo was stood above them on the hill, looking around rather sheepishly, panting to get back his breath. Upon spotting Todd he stepped forward to meet her as she flung her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"Don't ever do that again Bilbo!" She half chuckled half sobbed to him, he chuckled back moving to rub his hand over her back and stopping upon seeing her wounds.
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf piped up. "I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!"
Todd let him go then and he stepped forwards, clapping Balin gently on his shoulder to face the Company, he understood that they would have questions. She watched as he fumbled around with his pockets for a little while, but really took no real notice of it.
"Bilbo, we had given you up!" Kili started, with Fili jumping in, smiles on their faces at the return on their friend. "How on Middle Earth did you get past the Goblins?"
"How indeed?" Dwalin cut in, Thorin and himself looking to Bilbo as if he had just completely the impossible. Todd had half a mind to shout at them to stop being such idiots, yet she felt acting that way to her King was not very wise at all.
"Well what does it matter, he is back!" Gandalf interjected.
"It matters!" Thorin stated. Bilbo looked to him, as did the whole company. "I want to know, why did you come back, why didn't you take Todd and leave?"
"Look I know you doubt me, I know you always have." Bilbo started.
Todd watching his every move, ready to step in and defend him now that she had him back. She hadn't realized that Bofur had shuffled to her side and was resting his hand on her shoulder until he squeezed it. Turning to him he smiled, calming her down a little.
"And your right, I often think of Bag End, I miss my books and my arm chair and my garden… See that's where I belong, that's home!" He looked to Thorin then, something endearing and true in his eyes. "That's why I came back, you don't have one… a home, it was taken from you, but I would help you take it back if I can!" He finished. Thorin looking thoroughly ashamed of his previous misgivings.
The whole company had looked on, their eyes slightly heavier and their expressions soft and thoughtful, not one Dwarf was moved by his words. In the oncoming darkness of the evening they had finally understood that Bilbo had a home waiting for him, and that they often took that for granted. It was a big thing to leave the comfort of your own home in search of someone else's. Todd thought then and there that Bilbo was one of the most genuine most precious of people she had ever met. Never once being selfish in his ways, and that just proved it.
She was about to step forward, to embrace him again to pat him on the shoulder, she wasn't sure, when something pricked at her ears. Looking around she realized no one else was hearing it. As the sound floated to her, her eyes widened and her whole body froze. Words filled her ears, low grumbles and the thud of giant paws against the earth. They had been found. Bofur spotted her frozen state and looked to her, trying to catch her gaze, concern upon his features.
"Black speech…" she mumbled as the foul language filtered through her. Gandalf looked to her, his mind jumping to their pursuers on the brow of the hill. "They found us… Thorin!"
She called out to her King as an ear splitting howl ripped through the air. The mere sound of the fell beasts causing every Dwarf to grab for their weapons, ready to fight if it came to it. Looking back behind them they could see the Warg's rushing down the hillside towards them. Todd started to stumble forwards a little, her hands ghosting the hilts of her daggers.
"Out of the frying pan…" Thorin started. Gandalf finished. "… and into the fire, RUN!"
Todd couldn't help but realize that all they had been doing all night was fighting and running for their lives. They had had no time to relax and to regroup, catch their breath and continue, it was a struggle, a struggle that they needed to overcome, or they would never even make it halfway on their quest. She had this awful feeling in the pit of her stomach that they just weren't going to make it, it was too much. For her at least, there was no way she could out run them in this skin, but changing now might rip her wounds open on her back even more. She was once again no help at all.
As they sprinted down the side of the mountain she became increasingly aware of the feeling of being chased, and of having something dangerous looming up behind her. She could feel hysteria and desperation rush through her, pushing her faster and faster, her feet navigating the rocks and boulders, trying not to trip as she flew with the company downwards.
As they ran the sun must dipped too low over the mountains behind them for the light completely vanished from the land, the world around them becoming darker and more eerie. Yet they ran on.
Todd found herself right next to Bilbo as the first few Warg's caught up to them. They were just rounding a boulder when one launched itself over them and turned, skidding in the mud to face them. Its eyes were black and bearing down on herself and Bilbo, its snarl rumbling through their chest. Todd snarled back, her canines showing as the beast rushed forwards. Bilbo next to her drew his sword and held it out in front of him; eyes squeezed shut as the Warg rushed its head right through the blade, falling dead before them.
"Stupid beast!" Todd sneered, kicking at its head. "Quick, Bilbo pull it out!"
All around them Dwarves were screaming, and shouting to each other. Somewhere in their haze of facing the Warg, the others had reached a cliff edge. Gandalf ordering them into the trees, yet Bilbo and Todd were left behind. She looked to find them shouting to them, from the safety of the trees. Bofur was waving his arms around frantically, as Kili and Fili both started gazing, terrified behind them at what was coming. Todd's eyes were wide as she watched Bilbo struggle to free his blade.
"It's stuck!" He strained as he tried again. Todd grabbed at the hilt too, pulling with all her might, her back burning at the action. Yet it didn't even budge. Todd placed a foot on the monsters head and counted along as they pulled and pulled, until it became free of the Wargs head. The noise it made, a cracking and muffled squelching making Todd stomach turn.
"Bilbo!" Gandalf shouted. "Todd CLIMB!"
Todd didn't need to be told twice, she grabbed Bilbo's hand and rushed him down towards the trees the Company were in, the Wargs racing towards them at a great speed. She needed to get Bilbo into the trees as fast as possible, but upon reaching the them she realized that neither of them were tall enough. She skidded to a halt with Bilbo freaking out on the end of her arm when the idea struck her. The most foolish and stupid idea she had ever had, but it was her only one.
"Bilbo listen to me, we don't have much time!" Letting go of Bilbo she turned and shoved him behind her. "Use me to climb up!"
"What no!" He shouted back, his face contorting to confusion and anger. "We both go!"
"Bilbo!" She shouted as she hunched over, a primitive snarl leaving her throat as the Warg's started to close in on them. She let her first skin fill her mind, her whole body starting to shudder, and the wounds on her back intensifying. Her bones started to crack and her body burned with agonizing pain, but she did not scream out and she did not whimper, this kind of pain was one that she had learnt to suffer.
Bilbo watched completely frozen and stunned as Todd, his closest friend, lurched forwards, body cracking and contorting downwards, her clothes ripping around her making it hard to tell what exactly was cracking into what. The snarl and snapping of the Wargs ahead made him look away and take a few steps back, just as Todd burst forward, her first skin, her fox skin grew before him. He had forgotten how large and wild she looked.
Todd flashed her head round to Bilbo once the change was done, the pain had stopped and her clothes were now a puddle of ripped cloth on the floor. She snarled at Bilbo as the others all screamed and shouted at them. Bilbo shook himself and grabbed at her twin blades before using her back to jump into the waiting hands of Bofur and Nori.
Todd readied herself just in time for the onslaught as Warg after Warg descended on the end of the cliff where she was waiting, teeth bared, snarl erupting from her stomach. They surrounded her, most completely ignoring her and jumping at the trees, some though came at her, cornering her to the side of the cliff. All of them were snapping their jaws and clawing at the ground to finish her off, kill her. She could see the blood lust and thirst for death in their eyes, dark orbs of pure hatred.
She rushed the first, and darted right under its throat and bit down as hard as she could, just as she had done so many times before. The feel of the earth under her paws and the wind rushing through her fur was blissful, the urge to protect had driven her to this point again, she wandered if there was anything she wouldn't do to save her Company in that instant. The beast screeched as it crumpled and fell, skidding off the side of the cliff.
She turned again, a little too late as another Warg rushed her side, slamming into her, and knocking her over, swiping as she fell she managed to slice at the Wargs eyes. Scrambling up she was faced with a deafening roar, yet not that of a Wargs. It was more guttural and fiercer than any mangled Warg could create. The fell creatures around her ducked their heads and pulled away from her, scuttling with their heads low, back up the hill a little ways to face an encroaching white horror.
Todd shifted her stance, ready again, but watching with wide eyes as a creature so foul and evil looking approached the Company. It was a massive pale Orc, scars littering its body, muscles bursting. Its left arm was half gone, and in its place a mess of tangled metal, warped to look like a claw. Todd's hackles went up the second her eyes landed on it, and as its eyes landed on her. It sneered, muttering down at its White Warg, pointing right at her.
"Todd!" Bilbo shouted from above her in the trees.
He had been watching with wide terrified eyes as the vicious creatures surrounded her. His heart in his mouth as they all chomped their teeth and growled at his friend. She was a beacon of fiery red in a sea of dark fell beats, barking at them, her huge sharp teeth bared, spittle flying as she dared them to step closer to her Company. Bilbo thought that she was utterly terrifying in that instance, her eyes darkening to a dull forest green, compared to her usually light emerald ones, sparkling with her smile.
He had thought there and then that this was it for her, they would loose her either over the edge of the cliff, or to the teeth of the many Wargs surrounding her. A low wicked growl had taken the attention of the him and everyone else, as a great white Warg and white Orc rider appeared over the brow of a boulder.
The whole company watched as it leaned forward on its stead, smelling the air around it then pointing towards Thorin as it spoke. Black speech spilling from its mouth like a poison upon the air. Its words were harsh and broken, a sick grin spreading across its face as it words then bore some meaning to them all.
"… Thorin una Thrain!" It snarled.
Thorin shook his head, eyes heavy with the weight of his past. Everyone looked on in horror, this was Azog, this was the defiler that took Thorin's family from him, ruined his life and had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin.
Todd had heard the stories, and she had made the connections. Her eyes looked to Thorin, then to Fili and Kili who were looking from their uncle to the Orc with wide shattered eyes. All their lives they had been told that Azog was dead, yet here he was, threatening their existence. She vowed to herself then, that Azog would never touch the two heir's of Durin, she would do all that she could to keep them away from harm, they would not be taken away from this world, she could see to it. Azog was Thorin's to kill, to wipe off the face of Middle Earth.
With one loud shout, the Wargs were upon them again, two set upon Todd, swiping and biting at her as she tried to fight them off. The rest took to jumping at the trees, pushing at them, trying to topple them over. Todd watched as the Company wobbled as their tree was bombarded with the weight of the Wargs, their barks and howls reaching his ears and almost deafening him.
She stuck near the furthest tree, dodging and biting at any Warg that came close but she was fighting a loosing battle. So far she had managed to toss three Wargs over the edge, and give another a nasty slash across the face. It had growled at and snarled at any other Warg that had come close, it obviously didn't want any other beast apart from itself tearing her limb from limb.
It advanced, only for her to dart side wards, aiming to rush back for its throat, yet it had seen and jumped back round in time to swat at her with its paw, knocking her into the furthest tree, her wounds flaring up and causing her to yelp out, stumbling a little on her legs as she tried to stand back up to her full height. Yet before the Warg had a chance to lash out at her again, the first tree began to buckle and fall side ways, the shouts and calls of the Dwarves making its attention wane a little, so she took her chance. She darted head on, knocking it onto its side. Her teeth sinking into its neck and clamping down, the beast screeched out, trying to get back up, yet she wriggled her jaw around ripping, making it finally fall limp in her jaw. She dropped it and growled out, black oozing blood dripping from her mouth as she snarled.
A loud crash bought her attention back to the trees, as the Company started jumping to another tree, closer to the edge. She saw Bilbo launch himself into the air, barely grabbing a hold on the next tree. A high pitched bark left her throat as she raced to follow the dwarves as they jumped from falling tree to another falling tree to the last one. The lone tree now stood teetering over the edge of the cliff.
The last tree to fall almost knocked her over the edge with it, yet a quick leap into the air and over it had her stood at the base of the last tree, barking and growling at any Warg to come close. She was aware of the shout of the company above her, but all she was concentrating on was the eyes before her, devoid of any light.
A few launched forwards together, barging her into the tree, completely using her as a tool to push the tree over, she was pinned. Warg after Warg slammed into her as she tried desperately to keep them away from the tree. She was battered and starting to feel her vision going again, whatever Gandalf and Oin had done to help had been un-done and she was slipping. She couldn't let the Warg's hurt her friends, her King. She was not going to let Azog get what he wants, especially when Kili and Fili were involved too. She reckoned Azog didn't realize they were heirs of Durin yet, if they could just get away. Bilbo and Bofur too, she needed to protect them, and she was going to do it no matter what.
Her thoughts were interrupted when another Warg slammed into her, slicing at her back as it backed away. Todd yelped out in pain, crumpling to the side away from the tree. The Warg's completely overrunning it, stomping their huge paws all over her.
"Gandalf do something!" She heard Bofur shouting. Looking up, she spotted him through the throng of the jumping, sneering, chaos of Warg's. He was staring down to her, eyes wide with fear and something she couldn't place, it must have been her fuzzy vision, or the pain, she couldn't quite tell.
A stomp to her back bought her back to reality as a Warg had leapt up at the tree, landing back on her as it fell back down. With another yelp, she started whimpering lightly, the pain shooting through her. Her eyes shot wide before fading into blackness, the last thing filling her blurred vision was shooting flames falling to the ground before her.
AN: Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry that was so long! I think it's my longest chapter yet. Opps! Well like that last one, it's really just jamming full of action, so I really hope it all flows and makes sense. Let me know if you spot anything that's off, it would really help me out a bunch!
BUT YAY, return of the massive feck off Fox! Wargs really bring out the wilderness within her ha Tumblr URL's kingofcarvenstoned for those that want to ask questions or chat, I love a good chat!
Cheers for reading, please fav/fol/review for biscuits, well you know I would send biscuits if I wasn't a poor student, sorry!
